Hyderabad police officials on Saturday registered a case against unidentified individuals for posting false information on social media, alleging that a Telangana high court judge was being unduly influenced by Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay during the hearing of his son's anticipatory bail in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case.
Complaint by High Court Registrar
BS Chiranjeevi, the registrar (judicial) of the Telangana High Court, lodged a complaint with the Charminar police regarding the fabricated information circulating on social media. The minister's son, Bandi Bageerath, has been booked under Section 5 of the POCSO Act, which pertains to aggravated penetrative sexual assault of a minor and carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
High Court Hearing Details
During the hearing on Friday, the high court declined to grant Bageerath interim protection from arrest and scheduled the next hearing for May 21. The registrar stated that on May 14, “concocted news” was spread on social media, claiming that the Union minister was using all tactics to protect his son and was allegedly trying to influence the senior vacation judge. The complaint also highlighted that the false information was tarnishing the image of the judiciary and requested police action.
Police Case Registration
Charminar police station officials confirmed that a case was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to creating, publishing, or circulating false statements, information, or rumors; publishing or forwarding false information via social media with malicious intent to create hatred or tension between communities; and intentional insult or interruption to a public servant sitting in judicial proceedings.
Background
The case against Bageerath involves allegations of aggravated penetrative sexual assault under the POCSO Act, which is a serious offense. The high court's refusal to grant interim bail indicates the gravity of the matter. The police investigation will focus on identifying the individuals responsible for the social media posts and determining their intent.
Impact on Judiciary
The registrar emphasized that such false information undermines public confidence in the judiciary. The wide circulation of the posts could create a perception of bias, which the court sought to address through legal action. The case underscores the importance of verifying information before sharing it on social media platforms.
About the Author
Mahesh Buddi has been reporting on crime, courts, politics, transport, and civic issues for 18 years. He currently works as an Assistant Editor for The Times of India in Hyderabad and has previously worked with the Delhi-NCR edition. He also has experience in audio-visual media and research.
